A Banner Year

20 records you might dig:

11. Tinariwen - Aman Iman (World Village)

Tuareg rebels from the Sahara who wield machine guns and guitars with equal dexterity release one of the gentlest, life-affirming records in recent memory. The group followed up fellow dark continent favs Konono No. 1 as this year's indie darlings, but, c'mon, after 25 years in the desert, they deserve all the praise they can get.

By: Otis Hart